WO2016147125A1

WO2016147125A1 - Apparatus for transmission of subsonic sound waves to the human body

Info

Publication number: WO2016147125A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/051479
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michele ALDINIO
Original assignee: Aldinio Michele
Priority date: 2015-03-17
Filing date: 2016-03-16
Publication date: 2016-09-22
Also published as: EP3270864A1; HK1249846A1

Abstract

Multifunction apparatus for the selective transmission on the human body of subsonic sound waves supplied from a music source (10), said apparatus comprising a framework (2) containing a plurality of transducers (301,302,303,304 D/S) associated, by means of contact, with a plate-shaped element (10), the human body being able to be positioned on said framework, wherein a multichannel amplifier (100) receives at its input the music from the source (10), dividing it into a plurality of directional channels (111,112,113,114), and wherein a plurality of said transducers (301,302,303,304 D/S) are able to generate vibratory waves from low and ultra-low frequency sounds and are connected to a respective vibrating plate-shaped element (10) able to be selectively brought into contact with different parts of the user's body.

Description

APPARATUS FOR TRANSMISSION OF SUBSONIC SOUND WAVES TO THE HUMAN BODY

The present invention relates to an apparatus for selective transmission, by means of contact, of music sound waves and/or subsonic and/or acoustic and/or ultrasonic frequencies to the human body.

Different methods and apparatus for achieving relaxation of the human body and in particular relaxation obtained by means of direct application, through contact with the human body, of vibratory waves generated by music sources in accordance with so-called "tactile music" theories, are known.

Also known from US 2007/00255765 is a method and an apparatus for the transmission of sound waves to a human body for example lying on a relaxation couch.

Although performing their function, said method and apparatus are based on the generation of vibrations from stereo music and therefore are unable to obtain an effective orientation of the most suitable frequencies in relation to the different parts of the human body.

The diagram shown in Fig. 4 of the prior art document in fact illustrates the use of a single subwoofer which is sufficient in that the low sound frequencies are not directional and spread throughout the environment.

Moreover, it is not possible with the known solution to generate an effect using the known "binaural beats" technique, where a distinct separation between the waves received by the right-hand side of the body (and therefore the left hemisphere of the brain) and those received by the left- hand side (and therefore the right hemisphere of the brain) is necessary, since the sound transmitted outside of the tubes or containers which act as a sound box strikes both ears in a more or less uniform manner and in any case is diffused within the supporting structure.

The technical problem which is posed, therefore, is that of providing an apparatus for transmission, by means of contact, to the human body of music sound waves with low frequencies and/or subsonic and/or acoustic and/or ultrasonic frequencies, which can be selectively selected and transmitted in relation to the parts of the human body for which the same are preferably intended.

A further object is that of providing an apparatus where it is possible in any case to listen to music using headphones, at a low volume, or without large-size speakers, without losing the low-frequency effect, and on the contrary supplementing and amplifying considerably the perceivable sound range, which would not be audible to the ear with normal (even large-size) loudspeakers, and at the same time obtain a massaging effect on the human body.

Another object is that of providing an apparatus which may be used in environments where a relaxation effect is sought after, as in spas, hotels, wellness centres and the like, without disturbing nearby persons who in turn may also listen to their own music which may also be different.

A further object is that of providing an apparatus which allows a user to receive brain waves of the alpha type for example (8-13 Hz = sleep latency state), beta type (14-30 Hz = conscious state), or other frequencies in all or part of the human body, or to use the binaural beats technique, in order to generate in the brain the perception of alpha, beta and other frequencies, and determine a resonance effect of the former with the latter.

This object and other objects, which will be clear to the person skilled in the art, are achieved by an apparatus according to the features of Claim 1.

Preferred characteristic features are contained in the dependent claims.

For a better understanding of the present invention, the attached drawings are provided merely by way of a non-limiting example. In said drawings:

Figure 1: shows a plan view of a first example of an apparatus according to the invention;

Figure 2: shows a cross-sectional view along the plane indicated by

II -II in Figure 1;

Figure 3: shows a view, on a larger scale, of the detail indicated by

A in Figure 2;

Figure 4: shows the circuit diagram for distribution of the music to the transducers arranged in the various parts of the body;

Figure 5: shows a plan view of the invention illustrating the insulation of the right-hand side from the left-hand side by means of holes and/or sound-insulating material along the longitudinal axis; Figures 6-8: show schematic views, from above, of auxiliary means which are designed to transmit the vibration to the foot soles of the user; and

Figure 9: shows an example of a variation of embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.

With reference to the said figures, an apparatus according to the invention is denoted generically by 1 and, in the embodiment shown, has the form of an elongated mattress-like structure or framework 2 which is able to support a user's body in a prone or ergonomic - for example relaxation - position.

The framework 2 is layered and therefore comprises a first layer 3 made of soft material, such as foam rubber or similar cellular material, which has a length the same as that of the framework. This first layer 3 has preferably different densities in its various portions indicated generally by I, II, III, IV and V, respectively corresponding to the various parts of the user's body lying on the framework 2; in detail: back, section I; buttocks, section II; knees, section III; heel, section IV; head, section V.

Owing to this distributed arrangement of the transducers it is possible to achieve better diffusion of the tactile sound throughout the body, making use of the solid anatomical element arranged between the said transducers, such as the shinbone or calf bone situated between the knee transducer and the heel transducer.

A second layer 5 is arranged underneath the first layer and also consists of foam rubber, even though having a density greater than that of the first layer, so as to achieve optimum supporting of the human body. Inserts 6 of elasticaUy yielding material, such as foam rubber of suitable density, are positioned inside this second layer 5; these inserts in turn contain inside them corresponding transducers 300 designed to generate ultra-low sounds and frequencies (approx. 5 to 200 Hz); said transducers are associated (by means of contact) with a corresponding sheet 10 made of aluminium or fibreglass (or material with similar rigidity/flexibility characteristics) having a small thickness (compared to that of the framework 2), preferably of about 1-2 mm.

Each sheet 10 is fixed on one side 15 of the first layer 3 of the framework 2 facing the second layer 5 or in any case makes contact with this layer if the sheet 10 is incorporated in the framework automatically during manufacture (by moulding or foaming of foam rubber or expanded polyurethane) of its various layers. In particular, the sheets 10 and the corresponding transducers 300 are placed, in pairs and alongside each other in the portions I-IV of the framework 2, so as to be present in opposite sectors of the body relative to the longitudinal axis W of the framework.

Preferably and advantageously, opposite these sheets, the first layer has cavities 13 filled with a non-Newtonian fluid 16 which rapidly assumes the shape of the body resting on it, but which solidifies very quickly if stressed by a mechanical wave, and after solidification therefore improves the transmission of the waves and/or increases the area of contact with the immersed body, increasing the transmission. Alternatively, each non-Newtonian fluid is contained inside a cushion arranged on top of a corresponding sheet 10 and is fixed to the first layer in a permanent or, alternatively, removable manner by separable fastening means, such as those known by the trade name Velcro (parts with loops which can be removably fastened to parts with hooks).

The framework 2 may be advantageously enclosed within a lining which can be closed in a known manner, for example by means of a zip fastener, or also a lining may enclose, in a manner known per se, the cushions which may contain the non-Newtonian fluid.

As can be seen in Fig. 5, the framework 2 may have a plurality of holes 20 formed along its longitudinal axis W. This allows separation of the transducers 300 and the associated sheets 10 provided in the region of a long side 2A of this structure from the transducers and sheets provided in the region of the other long side 2B.

Alternatively or in addition, a rib made of any known insulating material may be arranged inside the framework 2 along this axis W. The framework 2 may also be divided into five sectors or cushions, corresponding to the aforementioned portions I-IV, enclosed and held together by a common lining; the portion V for supporting the head does not contain transducers and may also be sound-insulated with insulating material or by holes which minimize contact with the back sector, so as to further minimize the waves which reach the neck region and the head. It is possible to insert, underneath each cushion, between the foam rubber and the lining, a strip of cellular polycarbonate with dimensions slightly smaller than those of the corresponding cushion, so as to increase the rigidity and load-bearing resistance of each sector, without affecting the flexing capacity, and be able to incline the various cushions depending on their use (for example on top of a chaise-longue) .

Preferably (Fig. 1) the parts I, II, III, IV of the mattress framework may be divided into separate sections so as to facilitate handling thereof and adapt the positioning of the transducers to users with a different body sizes; at the time of use the various parts may be connected electrically and by means of inserts 2c for filling the voids so as to increase the comfort for the user.

As can be seen in Fig. 4, the logic diagram of the apparatus shows:

- a music source 10 of the stereo type 10a or multichannel type 10b;

- a multichannel amplifier 100 which, upon receiving at its input the music emitted by the source 10, divides it up - if stereo - and processes it into at least four separate polarized channels, i.e.:

I l l: right-hand ambient (surround) music

112: right-hand front music

113: left-hand front music

114: left-hand ambient (surround) music

which are connected to respective connection means, such as connectors, jacks or the like, 201,202,203,204 for sending the corresponding music of the polarized channel 111, 112, 113,114 to respective transducers of the framework 2.

The music is sent from these transducers to respectively right-hand (D) or left-hand (S) transducers 301,302,303,304 arranged on the mattress 2 along the said sections I, II, III, IV corresponding to the various parts of the body.

The preferred distribution logic diagram is as follows:

the right-hand ambient music connector 201: the positive pole to the right-hand transducer 304D for the feet, the negative pole to the right- hand transducer 30 ID for the shoulders; according to the invention the circuit between the two transducers 304D and 30 ID is closed by means of a series connection with positive pole on the transducer 30 ID and negative pole on the transducer 304D;

b) from the left-hand ambient music connector 204: the positive pole to the left-hand transducer 304S for the feet, the negative pole to the left- hand transducer 30 IS for the shoulders; according to the invention the circuit between the two transducers 304S and 30 IS is closed by means of a series connection with positive pole on the transducer 30 IS and negative pole on the transducer 304S;

c) from the right-hand front music connector 202: the positive pole to the right-hand transducer 302D for the buttocks, the negative pole to the right-hand transducer 303D for the knees; according to the invention the circuit between the two transducers 302D and 303D is closed by means of a series connection with positive pole on the transducer 303D and negative pole on the transducer 302D;

d) from the left-hand ambient music connector 203: the positive pole to the left-hand transducer 302S for the buttocks, the negative pole to the left-hand transducer 303S for the knees; according to the invention the circuit between the two transducers 302S and 303S is closed by means of a series connection with positive pole on the transducer 303S and negative pole on the transducer 302S.

With this connection diagram, the ambient or surround music is selectively distributed to feet and shoulders and the front music is distributed to buttocks and knees, thus being particularly suitable for simultaneous listening by means of stereo headphones.

As shown in Figures 6-8, the free end 26 of the portion IV for the feet may also be provided with extractable sliding plates 27 which are connected to the transducers/plates of the feet and positioned underneath them, being movable along a frame 28 inserted inside a corresponding cavity of the layer 5 and able to act as a massaging footrest for the user, since they are sensitive to the sound generated by these transducers. These plates 27 may be of the folding type, as shown in Figures 6-8, so that the vibration can be transferred to the foot sole.

As mentioned, the transducers 300 generate sounds at low to ultra-low frequencies. These frequencies may form part of a song or a musical excerpt emitted by these transducers and perceived only by the user who is resting on the framework 2.

The music source may be multichannel or simply stereo or mono so that it may then be processed and divided up in the multichannel amplifier.

As shown in Fig. 4, the transducers are series-connected in pairs with possible use of cross-over filters before and between them.

With such a connection it is possible - also because of the current reaching the second transducer different from that of the first transducer owing to the power absorption of the circuit formed - to differentiate the single signal reaching the two transducers which will respond in a different manner to the stresses and will be activated so as to emit sounds which are not identical, even though compatible and harmoniously connected together. With the circuit described, connected to a channel surround processor/amplifier 4, it is possible to obtain a locahzation of musical instruments, sounds or vectorial movement thereof within the body, by activating the respective transducers at the appropriate moment: for example the transducer underneath the right-hand buttock will be activated when the music track contains a sound from the right/front such as a front drum beat, and the right-hand transducer behind the back will be activated when the music track contains a certain sound from the right/rear such as the rear echo of the drums or its harmonics diffused within the space around or by a musical instrument/sound source positioned behind the right-hand shoulder of the spectator; in this way the sound of the drums will appear to start underneath the buttock and terminate behind the shoulder.

Considering, however, that in a music track the sounds and the relevant harmonics are in any case linked and the transducers are close to each other, the interference of the waves emitted by each transducer with the waves emitted by the nearby transducer will continuously generate different combinations within the body, displacing the focal point of the sound/vibration and giving the impression of a physical/vectorial displacement of the sound and the sound source, simulating a massage which moves along the body, i.e. differently from that which occurs instead in the prior art where a series of vibrations contained in the audio track/music are diffused uniformly over the entire body without any directionality and/or are superimposed in a confused manner.

Figure 9 shows a further variation of embodiment of the apparatus which is particularly suitable for use together with a home theatre system equipped with loudspeakers.

According to this embodiment, each pair of transducers is connected to one of the four channels with the following layout:

- right-hand front music AD connected to the transducers of right-hand foot 304D and right-hand knee 303D;

- left-hand front music AS connected to the transducers of left-hand foot 304S and left-hand knee 303S;

- right-hand rear surround PD connected to the transducers of right- hand buttock 302D and right-hand shoulder 30 ID;

- left-hand rear surround PS connected to the transducers of left-hand buttock 302S and right-hand shoulder 30 IS.

In this case the right-hand knee and foot are connected on the right-hand front channel, left-hand knee and foot are connected on the left-hand front channel, right-hand buttock or back are connected on the right-hand rear channel, and left-hand buttock and back are connected to the left-hand rear channel; this allows the directional/three-dimensional effect of the home theatre to be reproduced faithfully and spatially within the framework 2 and therefore the human body.

The different weight to which the transducer plates or sheets are subject, and the different form of the cushion plates or sheets, helps diversify the perception of the waves.

This combination of elements produces in the person the sensation that the sound/music is coming from many points below and inside the body, which are continuously moving (and not only from the points where the transducers are positioned), with the final effect of a physical music with a perceivable contact spectrum which is significantly greater on the low frequency side, and a pleasing dynamic massaging sensation, for a range of frequencies and spatial displacement thereof inside the body, in rhythm with music.

Amplifiers, pre-amplifiers or applications for computers, smartphones and mp3 players, etc., with dedicated digital effect programs, designed for this purpose, may further improve the performance of the apparatus 1. In fact, many amplifiers commonly used for home theatre or domestic stereo systems contain already digital effects which may be used for this purpose.

Digital programs or sound source applications (e.g. "apps" for smartphones which enhance the sound or apply 3D effects and the like) may be easily combined with digital processing of the amplifier.

With the advent of even more complex audio systems, for example which have more than four separate channels, it is possible to connect each transducer to a single channel of the source, and optionally increase the number thereof, positioning for example other transducers underneath the plates for massaging the foot sole or on hand support plates, making the invention even more versatile and allowing better coordination thereof with the listening system used.

Since sound is perceived on a logarithmic scale, even a small expansion of the low frequencies is perceived in contact terms as a great broadening or enrichment of the sound/melody; while an expansion of the high frequencies would not result in such a big difference being perceived in listening terms.

Also possible are applications which use particular frequencies such as brain waves which may be reproduced directly, differently from that which occurs with the "binaural beats" method or traditional "interferential waves" which must send to the brain two audible range frequencies having frequencies with a difference such as to generate a brain wave (10,030-10,015 = 15Hz = beta wave).

Some of these frequencies may be reproduced using the binaural beats method. Since the framework 2 has a right-hand side and a left-hand side which are independent (e.g. sheet 10 and associated transducer 8 underneath the right-hand foot separate and independent from those underneath the left-hand foot, and so on for the other sheets), it is possible to use the biauricular/binaural beats technique in order to generate directly in the brain the perception of particularly effective alpha, beta or other frequencies, since once these frequencies have been perceived, the brain tends to enter into resonance with them, modifying its activity.

As a result of the invention it is possible to listen to music in four dimensions namely also by means of tactile, physical and bodily sensations. Simultaneous "massaging with movement" to a musical rhythm generated by the low and ultra-low frequencies is also obtained.

As shown in Fig. 4, there is also the possibility of listening to the music at a low volume, or without large speakers, without losing the low frequency effect, and on the contrary supplementing and broadening the perceivable sound spectrum, which would not be picked up by the ears using normal (even large-size) audio speakers. The user has in fact the possibility of hstening to the music through headphones 20 to which the music is sent directly from the source 10, without losing the effect of the ultra-low frequencies, and thus supplementing the perceivable sound spectrum without other persons in the room or close by being able to notice anything, including the ultra-low frequencies, normally emitted by subwoofers and particular audible also through walls and bothersome for someone who hears only them and not the entire harmony).

Again using the headphones, several persons may listen to different music without disturbing each other (e.g. in wellness centres, spas, hotels, in the open air, etc.), since this increased perception, and therefore the emission of these audio-mechanical modulations concerns exclusively the person lying on said couch and, if required, may not be noticed by others, even at close range.

Finally, as described, there exists the possibility of using the binaural beats methods in order to produce in the human brain the resonance of the alpha and beta waves and the possibility of emitting the real alpha, beta and other waves, or the desired frequencies, in all or in only a part of the body.

The invention combines in a single apparatus all these functions. All of which at a limited cost, without having to use costly and bulky speakers and subwoofers.

Claims

1 Multifunction apparatus for selective transmission on the human body of subsonic sound waves supplied from a music source (10), said apparatus comprising a framework (2) containing a plurality of transducers (301,302,303,304 D/S) associated, by means of contact, with a plate-shaped element (10), the human body being able to be positioned on said framework, characterized in that it comprises a multichannel amplifier (100) which receives at its input the music from the source (10), dividing it into a plurality of directional channels (111, 112, 113, 114), a plurality of said transducers (301,302,303,304 D/S) being able to generate vibratory waves from low and ultra-low frequency sounds and being connected to a respective vibrating plate- shaped element (10) adapted to be selectively brought into contact with different parts of the user's body.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the transducers (301,302,303,304 D/S) are positioned in longitudinal sections according to an arrangement which provides: back, section I; buttocks, section II; knees, section III; heel, section IV; head, section V.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that in each section at least two transducers, i.e. right-hand transducer and left-hand transducer, are arranged opposite each other relative to the longitudinal axis of the framework (2).

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the multichannel amplifier (100) processes and divides up the music into at least four separate polarized channels (111; 112; 113; 114) respectively associated with: right-hand surrounding or ambient music; right-hand front music;

left-hand front music; left-hand surrounding or ambient music; each channel being associated with a respective connector (201;202;203;204) for connection to the transducers.

5. Multifunction apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the music is sent from the connectors (201;202;203;204) to the transducers (301,302,303,304 D/S) arranged in the mattress (2) with the following arrangement:

a) from the right-hand ambient music connector (201) the positive pole to a right-hand transducer (304D) for the feet; the negative pole to a right-hand transducer (30 ID) for the shoulders; the circuit between the two transducers, i.e. right-hand transducer (304D) for the feet and right-hand transducer (30 ID) for the shoulders being closed by means of a series connection with positive pole on the right-hand transducer (30 ID) for the shoulders and negative pole on the right-hand transducer (304D) for the feet;

b) from the left-hand ambient music connector (204) to a left-hand transducer (304S) for the feet; the negative pole to a left-hand transducer (30 IS) for the shoulders; the circuit between the two transducers, i.e. left-hand transducer (304S) for the feet and left-hand transducer (30 IS) for the shoulders being closed by means of a series connection with positive pole on the left-hand transducer (30 IS) for the shoulders and negative pole on the left-hand transducer (304S) for the feet; c) from the right-hand front music connector (202) the positive pole to a right-hand transducer (302D) for the buttocks; the negative pole to the right-hand transducer (303D) for the knees; the circuit between the two transducers, i.e. right-hand transducer (302D) for the buttocks and right-hand transducer (303D) for the knees, being closed by means of a series connection with positive pole on the right-hand transducer (303D) for the knees and negative pole on the right-hand transducer (302D) for the buttocks;

d) from the left-hand ambient music connector (203) the positive pole to a left-hand transducer (302S) for the buttocks; the negative pole to a left- hand transducer (303S) for the knees; the circuit between the two transducers, i.e. left-hand transducer (302S) for the buttocks and left- hand transducer (303S) for the knees being closed by means of a series connection with positive pole on the left-hand transducer (303S) for the knees and negative pole on the left-hand transducer (302S) for the buttocks.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the music is sent from the connectors (201;202;203;204) to the transducers (301,302,303,304 D/S) arranged in the mattress (2) with the following layout:

- right-hand front music AD to the transducers for the right-hand foot (304D) and right-hand knee (303D)

- left-hand front music (AS) to the transducers for the left-hand foot (304S) and left-hand knee (303S);

- right-hand rear surround (PD) to the transducers for the right-hand buttock (302D) and right-hand shoulder (30 ID);

- left-hand rear surround (PS) to the transducers for the left-hand buttock (302S) and right-hand shoulder (30 IS).

7. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that for channels greater than four in number each transducer is connected to a single channel.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the framework (2) is of the layered type and comprises a first layer (3) for cooperating directly with the human body and made of a cellular polyurethane material such as foam rubber or also Memory Foam, said first layer (3) being supported by a second layer (5), also made of cellular polyurethane material, but with a different density from that of the first layer (3), each transducer (8) and the corresponding plate-shaped element (10) being inserted inside the second layer (5), said element (10) being in contact with one side (15) of the first layer (3) facing the second layer (5).

9. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that a body, such as a pad, containing a non-Newtonian fluid is provided opposite at least some of the transducers, or each of them, and the associated plate- shaped element, said body being associated with the first layer (3) of the framework (2) and being in contact with the human body lying on the framework itself.

1ft Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the framework (2) is divided into cushions (30,40,50,60) independent of each other and arranged in the different sections (I, II, III, IV) containing the transducers.

11 Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized in that said cushions are connected together electrically and/or via inserts 2c for filling the voids.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said framework (2) is enclosed by a separable lining which can be closed, for example by means of a zip fastener along the head-to-feet longitudinal axis, and is preferably expandable in the form of bellows.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the transducers (300) are connected to an external audio system such as a wave generator, a home theatre system, an MP3 player, a radio system, a telephone or the like.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises longitudinal insulating means for insulating the transducers (300), located in the proximity of a right-hand side (2A) thereof, from those located in the proximity of the other left-hand side (2B).

15. pparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an extensible element (27) which can be extracted from a free end (26) of the framework (20) and connected to a corresponding foot transducer (304D/S).